Weaving loom clamp



Feb. 22, 1955 D. E. HOUGHTON WEAVING LOOM CLAMP 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledAug. 1, 1951 K INVENTORY Daniel H0 uybfon, M1440, M0

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 22, 1955 D. E. HOUGHTON WEAVING LOOM CLAMP 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledAug. 1, 1951 N\N Pom h B mfim JO F am. m m

l u A 798 wmq mmm United States Patent O WEAVING LOOM CLAMP Daniel E.Houghton, Washington, D. C., assignor, by mesne assignments, to New YorkWire Cloth Company, York, Pa., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationAugust 1, 1951, Serial No. 239,734

13 Claims. (Cl. 139-127) This invention relates to apparatus for weavingwire cloth and the like.

In greater detail, this invention relates to so-called bobbinlessweaving wherein the weft wire or filament is fed partially into the loomshed by a first reciprocating clamp member and then picked up by asecond reciprocating clamp member. The second reciprocating clamp memberthen serves to pull the filament completely through the shed. This typeof weaving is generally well known and the present invention relatesonly to novel reciprocating clamp members for handling the filament.

Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provideimproved clamp members for use in bobbinless weaving apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved clamp membersutilizing wedging rollers for retaining the weft filament.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved wearing clampmembers which incorporate a guiding member for leading the weft filamentthrough the loom shed.

Further objects and the entire scope of the invention will become fullyapparent from the following detailed description and the appendedclaims. It will be understood that the detailed description is givenonly for purposes of illustration and is not intended to limit theinvention.

The invention may be more fully understood with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows the general arrangement of my novel clamping members incombination with a suitable loom structure.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the clampingmember constituting my invention.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the clamping members shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the left-hand clamp member shown inFigure 2. This view is taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure5.

Figure 5 shows a sectional view substantially along the line 55 ofFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the right-hand clamp member shown inFigure 2. This view is substantially along the line 66 of Figure 7.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 77 ofFigure 6.

Figure 8 is a detailed sectional view of a tapered pin takensubstantially along the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of left-hand and righthand clamp membersaccording to another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 10 shows a front view of the clamp members shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 shows a sectional view of the lefthand clamp member shown inFigures 9 and 10 Figure 12 shows a sectional view of the right-handclamp member shown in Figures 9 and 10.

Referring now to Figure 1, a left-hand or insert clamp member isdesignated generally as 10 and a right-hand or pick-up clamp member isdesignated generally as 12. The clamp members 10 and 12 are mounted ondamp carriers 14 and 16, respectively. These clamp carriers may betubular members and are supported for reciprocating motion in brackets18 and 20 mounted on a transverse bar 22. The brackets 18 and 20 areeach 2,702,566 Patented Feb. 22, 1955 ice provided with extending arms24 and hubs 26 through which the carriers 14 and 16 may slide.

The bar 22 will be supported by any suitable means with respect to thewarp wires 28 through which a weft filament is to be threaded.

The weaving apparatus may be of any well known type and may be providedwith arms 30 and 32 which will be moved in synchronism about pointswhich are fixed relative to the bar 22 and brackets 18 to first movetoward one another and then away from one another as the weavingoperation continues. At the lower end of the arm 32, there may beattached as by pivot pin 34 an operating rod 36, terminating at its endremote from end 34 in a conventional flexible joint 38. The joint 38 maybe all of a ball-and socket-type or the like. The end 40 of the carrier16 remote from the clamp 12 may then be attached to the joint 38.Accordingly, as the arm 32 is oscillated clockwise, as viewed in Figure4, the clamp 12 will be reciprocated to the left in Figure 1 to enterthe loom shed. The movement of arm 32 will usually be sufficient tobring the clamp 12 to about the center of the loom shed. Thereupon, thearm 32 will then be oscillated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 1,and the clamp 12 will be returned to the position as shown in Figure 1.

At the same time as arm 32 oscillates as above described, the arm 30will move through a similar oscillation and in so doing, an operatingmember 42, connected to arm 30 at pivot pin 44, will reciprocate carrier44 in a similar manner. The arrangement of the apparatus will be suchthat the clamp 10 will also be moved substantially to the center of theloom shed so that the clamps 10 and 12 may butt against one another. Atthis time clamp 10 will have inserted the filament halfway into the shedand into clamp 12.

The weft filament may be led into the interior of the carrier 14 at anysuitable point outwardly of the bracket 18. The filament will thenproceed through the interior of the carrier 14 and into and through theclamp 10, so that the end of the filament will be positioned just at theleading end of clamp 10. As will become more fully apparent below, theclamp 10 will grasp the filament and the filament will be inserted intothe shed by moving with the clamp 10 toward the center of the loom shedas arm 30 is oscillated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 1. Whenthe clamps 10 and 12 meet in the loom shed, the clamp 12 will pick up orgrasp the end of the filament whereupon the filament will be pulledthrough the shed as the clamp 12 returns to its position as shown inFigure 1.

As will be explained below, as soon as the pick-up clamp 12 takes overthe pulling operation, the clamp 10 releases its hold on the filamentand permits the latter to be pulled through the clamp and carrier 14.

There may also be provided the usual cutting shears and apparatus forturning the separate ends of the weft filaments back through a few ofthe warp wires 28 to form an edge of the woven material. Inasmuch assuch mechanism does not form any part of the present invention, it isnot shown or described herein.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the details of the clamp members 10and 12 may be generally understood. Referring first to clamp 10, thisclamp consists of a main body portion 50 and a cover plate 52. The plate52 may be secured to the body 50 by suitable screws 54. The body 50 issupported in the carrier member 14 by means of an upper screw 56 andlower screw 58 which seat in a shank 60 extending from the body portion50.

The forward or leading end of the clamp 10 is provided with a slidableguide sleeve 62 which serves to protect and guide the end of thefilament through the loom shed. As will become fully apparent below,this sleeve may retract into the clamp 10 whenever the outer end 64 ofsleeve 62 engages the leading end of the clamp member 12.

The clamp member 10 is further characterized by the provision of anaperture 66 in the cover plate 52, this aperture being provided forthreading the filament through the clamp and for cleaning a cavity 74.

Further details of the clamping roller 68 and other operating mechanismsof clamp 10 may be understood with reference to Figures 4 and 5 whichshow sectional views. The weft filament is designated 70 and may beobserved in Figure 5. The filament 70 will enter the extreme left-handend of the shank 60 through a centrally located aperture 72 forming afilament passage and will proceed through this passage into the bodyportion 50 where it will then pass through the cavity 74 in which theclamp roller 68 is located. The cavity 74 is characterized by aninclined upper wall 76, this wall being preferably at an angle of 14 toa lower wall 78 which is aligned with the lower edge of the aperture 72.The lower wall 78 is preferably formed by the top surface of an inlay 80of relatively hard material, such as hardened steel, Carboloy and thelike.

The roller 68 will be freely movable within the cavity 74 and will be ofsuch diameter that, when the roller is moved to the left, as shown inFigure 5, it will substantially fill the distance between the lower wall78 and the inclined wall 76. With the roller in the extreme left-hand ofcavity 74, there would not be space for the filament 70. Therefore, whenthe filament 70 is present in the cavity 74, roller 68 will not be ableto move to its extreme left-hand position.

The roller 68 is resiliently urged to the left, as shown in Figure 5,under the action of a compression spring 82 which is mounted in ahousing 84 which is slidable in an auxiliary cavity 86 leading from thecavity 74. As will be clearly understood from the drawing, thearrangement is such that the spring 82 will gently urge the roller intosimultaneous contact with the filament 70 and with the inclined wall 76.Then, if tension is applied to the filament 70, tending to move thefilament to the left, as shown in Figure 5, friction between the roller68 and filament 70 will cause the roller to bind against both thefilament 70 and the inclined wall 76 to thus firmly retain the filament.

The function of the details of the guide sleeve 62 will now bedescribed. This sleeve is received in an elongated aperture 90,extending inwardly from the righthand end of the clamp as shown inFigure 5, the aperture being aligned with the previously mentionedaperture 72 so that the filament 70 may proceed completely through theclamp member 10 and the guide sleeve 62 in a straight line. The upperportion of the sleeve member 62 is cut away to form a fiat surface 92,except at the inner end of the sleeve, where a shoulder 94 is providedto form a stop for engagement with a transverse pin 96. A compressionspring 98 is then provided between the inner end of sleeve 62 and an endwall 100 of aperture 90. Accordingly, the sleeve 62 is normally held inthe position shown in Figure 5, but, upon pressure being applied to theouter end 64, the sleeve may be moved inwardly of the clamp 10 byovercoming the spring 98.

To guide the filament into the sleeve 62, there is provided an innerguide tube 102, which, at its right-hand end rides within a centralaperture 104 in sleeve 62. The guide tube 102, at its left-hand end, ispassed through a reduced section 106 of aperture 90 and the extremeleft-hand end of guide tube 102 is flared outwardly as at 108 within thecavity 74.

In connection with clamp member 10, it will be understood that thefunction of the inclined wall 76 may be equally well performed byextending the roller 68, perhaps as by providing a central shaft for theroller, and having this shaft ride on inclined surfaces of some sort.The illustrated embodiment in which a relatively narrow cavity isemployed is preferable simply because the completed clamp may be verycompact.

The roller 68 as well as the inlay 80 will normally be of very hardmaterial. Therefore, if tension is applied to the filament 70 in thedirection to the left, as viewed in Figure 5, it will result in thefilament being deformed rather than the roller 68 and the inlay 80 andthis will tend the increase of friction. Moreover, while there will besome wear as the filament is moved through the clamp 10 from left toright, this wear will appear on the filament rather than on the hardenedroller and inlay. However, the filament will pass only once through theclamp and, therefore, the wear both on the filament and on the rollerand inlay will be negligible.

In operation, it will be understood that, after the clamp member 10 hasreturned to its position, as shown in Figure 1, the filament 70 will besheared ofi closely adjacent the end 64 of sleeve 62 in the position ofthe sleeve shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5. The filament 70 will then besupported by inner guide tube 102 and extend slightly beyond the endthereof. The filament will be protected from catching in the warp wiresand bending by reason of extended sleeve 62.

The structural details of the clamp member 12 will now be considered.Referring first to Figures 2 and 3, clamp member 12 is characterized bya body portion supported by means of a shank portion 122 extendingwithin the carrier 16 and secured thereto by a screw 124. A pivotallymounted release member 126 is retained in the body portion 120 by meansof a cover plate 128, this cover plate also forming a housing 130 toreceive release operating button 132. The plate 128 may be secured tothe body portion 120 by means of suitable screws 134. The cover plate128 is further provided with an aperture 136 for cleaning the cavity146.

Referring next to Figures 6 to 8, the end of the clamp 12 facing theclamp 10 is provided with a conically shaped opening 140 which will bealigned to meet with the end 64 of the guide sleeve 62. At the apex end142 of opening 140, there is provided an aperture 144 forming a filamentpassage through which the weft filament 70 (see Figure 5) may pass intoa cavity 146. The cavity 146 is defined at its lower side by a wall 148formed in the body portion 120. The release operating member 126 isretained by reason of a rectangular post 150 extending inwardly from themid-portion of body 120. An aperture 152, slightly larger in diameterthan a diagonal of post 150, permits the corner 154 of post 150 to actas a pivot point about which the member 126 may be rotated.

The cavity 146 is primarily formed by cutting away an interior sectionof the member 126 to provide an inclined upper wall 156 against whichthe clamping roller 138 may operate. However, the forward portion ofcavity 146 is formed by a curved wall 158 formed integral with the bodyportion 120. The roller 138 will normally cause a clamping action on afilament inserted through the opening 130 because the member 126 will bemaintained in a fully counterclockwise position, as shown in Figure 7,by reason of a tapered pin 160. As best shown in Figure 8, the pin 160bears against the body portion 120 at one side and against the releaseoperating member 126 at the other side. If the release operating button132 is moved to the right, as shown in Figure 8, the taper of the pin160 will permit the release operating member 126 to pivot clockwise, asviewed in Figure 7, and this will have the effect of moving the inclinedwall 156 away from the lower cavity wall 158 so that a binding action bythe roller 138 on the filament can no longer exist.

The release operating button may be operated by any suitable means. Asone example, illustrated in Figure 2, as the clamp member 12 returns toits retracted position shown in Figure 1, the button 132 may engage acam surface C, so that it will be moved to release the filament fromroller 138 in the manner described above.

To review the operation of the clamp members in the complete apparatus,it may be first assumed that the filament has been severed at theleading end of clamp 10 in the position of the latter shown in Figure 1.On the next cycle of the movement, the clamps 10 and 12 will move towardone another to meet near the center of the shed. Before movement ofclamp 10 has begun spring 82 will have urged roller 68 into theengagement with the filament 70 and, therefore, the filament will bemoved with the clamp 10 toward the clamp 12. When the end 64 of sleeve62 en ages the conical opening 140 of clamp 12, the sleeve will bepushed back, permitting the filament to enter aperture 144 of clamp 12.Upon entering the aperture 144, the filament, because of its inherentstiffness, will urge the roller 138 to the rear so that the end of thefilament will pass beneath the roller. The clamps will next begin toseparate, whereupon the end of the filament will be retained by clamp 12and, at the same time, the roller 68 of clamp 10 will release its grip.When the clamps have reached their retracted positions, as shown inFigure 1, the filament will now be stretched completely across the loomshed, whereupon the filament may be severed adjacent clamp 10. Thesevered end and the end now released by clamp 12 (because of operationof button 132) are then available for weaving into the edge of thematerial.

Referring to Figures 9 through 12, another embodiment of my inventionwill now be described. Figures 9 and 10 show a plan view and front view,respectively of modified clamp members which are intended to carry outthe same function as the previously described clampmg members 10 and 12.Figures 11 and 12 show sectional news as indicated. The left-handclamping member is here generally designated 210 and the right-handclamping member is generally designated 212.

Referring first to left-hand clamping member 210, the generalarrangement of the mechanism is similar to previously described clamp10. However, one primary distinction is a modified construction of theguide sleeve. In this instance, the guide sleeve consists of a tubularmember 214 having a centrally located aperture 216 only slightly largerthan the diameter of the weft filament which is to be used. The guidetube 214 is provided with a reduced portion 218 extending to the left,as viewed in Figure 11. This reduced portion slides within an aperture220 in the leading end of ,clamp 210. A coil spring 222 is provided tourge the-"guide tube 214 outwardly from the leading end 224 of theclamp. The connection between the outer end of tube 214 and spring 222may be a washer 226 retained by a snap ring 228 which seats in a groove230 in the tube 214. As one alternative structure, the extension 226'may be integral with spring 222.

The movement of tube 214 outwardly from the clamp 210 is limited by anextension 226' which extends along the side of clamp 210, as best shownin Figures 9 and 10, and has an end 232 in the form of a hook to engagethe end 234 of an opening 236 in the side of the clamp member 210. Thereis also provided a guide block 238 for preventing the hooked end 232 ofextension 226' from being sprung out of the opening 236 because of theflexibility of extension 226'.

Regarding clamp member 212, a primary distinction over previouslydescribed clamp 12 is in the means for operating the tapered pin whichreleases the clamping hold on the filament. In this modification, thetapered pin, here designated as 250, is provided with spaced shoulders252 and 254 between which are positioned operating lugs 256 and 258which are integral with a rocker arm 260. The rocker arm 260 is pivotedabout a pin 262 mounted on a post 264 depending from the main body ofclamp 212. A spring 266 is provided between the body of clamp 212 andthe end 268 of rocker arm 260 urging the tapered pin 250 upwardly intothe clamp. The pin 250 in this position will rotate the release member270 into the clamping position of the latter, as shown in Figure 12. Therocker arm 260 may be operated to withdraw the pin 250 by any suitablemeans. In this instance, the end 268 of rocker arm 260 is provided witha cam surface 272 which may engage a suitable cam member C on theframework of the loom to withdraw pin 250 whenever the clamp 212 hasreturned to its retracted position.

A remaining distinction of the clamps 210 and 212 is that springs 280and 282 are provided at clamps 210 and 212, respectively, for permittinglimited movement of the clamps with respect to their carriers. Thecarrier for clamp 210 is here designated 284. A pivot pin 288 isprovided as a connection between carrier 284 and clamp 210 so that theclamp 210 may be pivoted counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 9, withrespect to carrier 284. An extended end 290 which normally lies againstthe carrier 284 prevents clockwise movement of clamp 210 about the pin288.

Similarly, a pivot pin 292 interconnects carrier 286 and clamp 212 thuspermitting clockwise rotation of clamp 212 about pin 292. End 294 ofclamp 212 pre vents counterclockwise pivoting of clamp 212 about pin292.

In view of the foregoing, it will be clear that the clamps 210 and 212will normally be retained as shown in Figure 9 because of the action ofsprings 280 and 282. However, when the leading ends of the clamps meet,it the extreme end of the guide tube 214 does not exactly align with aconical opening 296 in clamp 212, either one or the other of springs 280or 282 will yield to permit the clamps to properly align themselves.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the present inventionprovides clamping apparatus for bobbinless weaving which is relativelysimple in construction and yet exercises a positive grip on the weftfilament.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description has beenmade only for purposes of illustration and is not intended to limit thescope of the invention. On the contrary, the scope of the invention isto be determined from the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A weaving loom of the bobbinless type comprising in combination, apair of elongated and substantially axially aligned carriers slidablysupported for movement of the inner ends thereof from the opposite edgesof the shed of said loom, mechanism interconnected to and operable toreciprocate said carriers simultaneously in op posite directions towardand from each other, an insert clamp unit carried by the inner end ofone carrier, and a pick-up clamp unit carried by the inner end of theother carrier in axial alignment and cooperable with the insert clamp toengage the end of a weft filament drawn partially through said shed fromone edge by the insert clamp and draw the filament to the other edge ofthe shed, each of said clamp units containing therein filament grippingmeans and actuating mechanism therefor operable automatically to gripsaid filament and move it relative to the shed when the unit is movingin one direction and permit movement of the unit relative to thefilament when the unit is moving in the opposite direction.

2. The weaving loom set forth in claim 1 further including a guidesleeve reciprocably carried by said insert clamp unit for movementbetween projected and retracted positions and surrounding the weftfilament when mounted therein, and compressible means normally urgingsaid sleeve to its projected position, the outer end of said sleevebeing engageable with and movable by said pick-up clamp unit to theretracted position of said sleeve to insure movement of the end of thefilament into said unit.

3. The weaving loom set forth in claim 1 further characterized by thepick-up clamp unit including a release member operable to render thegripping means thereof ineffective near the completion of its movementin filament drawing direction to effect release of said filament by saidpick-up unit.

4. The weaving loom set forth in claim 1 further characterized by saidclamp units including rolling members movable automatically in wedgingmanner against said weft filament when said units are moved in onedirection and permitting relative movement between said filament andunits when said units are moved in the opposite direction.

5. The weaving loom set forth in claim 1 further characterized by atleast one of said clamp units being pivotally connected to one of saidcarriers for limited movement about a substantially vertical pivot.

6. A weaving loom of the bobbinless type comprising in combination; apair of elongated carriers axially aligned and reciprocable in oppositedirections to cause the inner ends thereof to move toward and from eachother; guide bearings slidably supporting said carriers; mechanismoperable simultaneously to reciprocate said carriers as aforesaid; andinsert and pick-up clamp units attached respectively to the inner endsof said carriers and projecting toward each other, said clamps beingcooperable to pass the free end of a weft filament from one to the otherincident to moving the same successively by the insert and pick-upclamps through the shed of said weaving loom, each of said clamps havingopposed surfaces extending generally axially of said carriers and at anangle to each other, a rolling member engaging and Wedgingly movable byone of said surfaces into gripping engagement with a weft filamentextending between said surfaces, and means in each clamp operableyieldably to urge said rolling member against said one surface in adirection to cause the rolling member to be wedged against said filamentto grip the same when the clamp is moving in one direction and permitrelative movement between the clamp and filament when the clamp ismoving in the opposite direction.

7. The weaving loom set forth in claim 6 further char acterized by oneof said opposed surfaces in said clamp units being substantiallyparallel to the axes of said carriers, and against which the filament isdisposed when clamped by said units.

8. The weaving loom set forth in claim 7 further characterized by theother of said opposed surfaces being dis posed at an angle ofsubstantially 14 to said one of said opposed surfaces.

9. The weaving loom set forth in claim 6 further characterized by saidclamp units including expansible springs interengageable with therolling members thereof and operable normally to urge said membersagainst one of said angularly related surfaces to effect movement of therolling members in a direction to be wedged against said filament.

10. The weaving loom set forth in claim 6 further characterized by saidone surface of said pick-up clamp unit which is engaged by said rollingmember of said unit being formed on a release member movably supportedon said unit, and means operable substantially at the completion of thefilament drawing movement of said clamp unit to effect movement of saidrelease member and cause said one surface thereof to move in a directionto release said rolling member from gripping engagement with saidfilament.

11. The weaving loom set forth in claim 10 further characterized by saidrelease member comprising a lever pivotally supported on said clampunit, and release means supported by said unit to engage said lever andoperable normally to dispose the surface on said lever which engages therolling member in operative position, said release means being movablesubstantially at the completion of the drawing movement of said pick-upclamp unit to permit movement of the release member and surface thereonin a manner to cause said rolling member to release said filament.

12. The weaving loom set forth in claim 6 further characterized by saidcarriers being substantially tubular and said clamp units having shankspositioned within the inner ends thereof and fastened thereto.

13. The weaving loom set forth in claim 12 further characterized by theinsert clamp unit having a passage extending longitudinallytherethrough, and the carrier supporting said clamp unit also beingtubular and axially aligned with the passage in said clamp unit, theweft filament extending through said carrier and passage in said clampunit during the operation of said loom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,027,995 Cruikshank May 28, 1912 1,564,506 Ambler Dec. 8, 19252,070,361 Klemm Feb. 9, 1937 2,314,579 Frank Mar. 23, 1943 2,538,674Edwards Jan. 16, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,659 Great Britain of 1901856,385 France Mar. 18, 1940

